Los Angeles

A Whimsical Dr. Seuss Experience is Coming to Los Angeles

Submitted by Gina Ragland on

Step into the magical world of Dr. Seuss. Photo courtesy of Fever

Dr. Seuss has delighted readers for decades with its whimsical world of classic characters and tongue-twisting rhymes. Those beloved Dr. Seuss stories will jump off the pages and land in Los Angeles, creating an immersive world for kids and parents alike through the Dr. Seuss Experience. 

Read on for what to expect at the Dr. Seuss Experience in Los Angeles, and if your favorite Dr. Seuss book characters like The Cat in the Hat or The Grinch will be present in the Dr. Seuss installments available to explore. 

For another interactive Los Angeles experience for kids that bursts with fun, get lost in Bubble World. 

Disneyland with a Baby? All You Need Is This Game Plan

Submitted by Gina Ragland on

Have a memorable day at the most magical place on earth with a baby. Photo by Eduardo Merille/CC BY 2.0

Disneyland with a baby might seem like a big undertaking, but it’s more doable than you might think. Sure, your baby may not remember their memorable Disneyland day, but photos will be stored on your phone for years, proving that your little one did go to Disneyland as a baby. 

From the Baby Care Center to no-height requirement rides, Mickey's Toontown, dance parties, and air-conditioned spaces, Disneyland with a baby is as breezy as a palm tree swaying in the Southern California sky. Keep reading below for the best tips for having the most magical day at Disneyland with a baby. 

Discover the best hotels to stay in Anaheim near Disneyland, and see what other activities there are for kids in Anaheim that go beyond Disneyland. There are more baby-friendly theme parks to explore in our SoCal Theme and Water Parks Guide.  

32 Best Things To Do with Kids on Catalina Island

Submitted by Matt Matasci on

There are tons of Catalina adventures on the water. Photo courtesy of Catalina Tours

Catalina Island offers a quick getaway that will make you second guess if you left California and somehow found yourself on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. Easily done in a day trip or longer if your family prefers, Catalina Island is reachable by an hour-long boat ride (or slightly longer, depending on the port you depart) from Long Beach, San Pedro, and Dana Point. 

There are endless activities for kids on Catalina Island, from glass-bottom boat tours to bison expeditions and just playing in the sand at the beach. Plenty of entertainment and activities will keep little ones and grown-ups happy for a day or a weekend trip on Catalina Island. 

When departing from Long Beach, check out these things to do in Long Beach with kids. If islands are your thing, drive up the coast to explore Channel Islands National Park with the family, and plan your next adventure with our Weekend Getaway Guide and Day Trips for Los Angeles Families. 

Not-So-Scary Halloween Events in Los Angeles for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Underwater pumpkin carvings are a treat to see! Photo courtesy of the Aquarium of the Pacific

Halloween events can be magical in Los Angeles. Neighborhoods go over-the-top with decorations, which shouldn't be a surprise since this is home to Hollywood, after all, and that means we know a thing or two about costumes. But the littlest trick-or-treaters are often overwhelmed by some of the most common Halloween elements: darkness, scary faces, and things that go bump in the night. With that in mind, these Halloween outings are perfect for preschoolers, delivering just the right atmosphere for your pint-size "ghouls" and "boos."

For some hauntingly good, money-saving deals, check out these free Halloween events in Los Angeles, see the best spots to go trick-or-treating in Los Angeles, and find more spooky activities in our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles & Orange County Kids. 

Take a Ghost Tour in Los Angeles and Discover the Terrors of Tinseltown

Submitted by Meghan Rose on

The Hollywood sign's spooky history is part of the tour. Have you seen the sign's ghost when hiking?

Ghost tours are perfect Halloween (or anytime!) fun for teens, tweens, tourists, and even locals who love LA.

My kids are teenagers. That means they are too old for pumpkin picking at Underwood Farms. They also have inherited my horror of a jump scare, which means they have no interest in Halloween Horror Nights or the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. But these kids raised in the era of true crime podcasts can get down with some real-life spooky stories. So when I heard about US Ghost Adventures LA tours, it sounded like a perfect family Halloween teen outing.

I signed us up for the LA Ghosts: Terrors of Tinseltown Tour, and guess what? I was right! An evening of laughing, walking, learning, spooking, and eating chocolate with your teens is worth its weight in gold. Read on to learn more about just how scary the tour is, where it goes, and why it's my family's new Halloween tradition.

For more fun with teens, check out our Los Angeles Activities Guide for Teens and Tweens. And, since this tour made me remember how fun it is to play touring in my own town, I really recommend checking out our Ultimate 3-Day LA Itinerary by a Local Mom. Man, I love LA.

NEW American Girl Store Opens in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Step into an "a-doll-able" store experience.

American Girl dolls bring back fond memories, and the new American Girl Store in Westfield Century City resurfaces those memories even more. The difference was that I got to create new memories with my two-year-old daughter as we had the sweetest day getting dolled up at the American Girl store. 

As a millennial mom, I remember adjusting Molly's glasses on her face, and dressing her in her finest plaid outfit. I remember cozying up in our red living room chair with an American Girl book in one hand and Molly in the other. From manicures to books, keep reading below for what you can expect at the new two-level American Girl Store in Los Angeles. 

The American Girl Store is just the start of the fun at the Westfield Century Mall. Check out why the Westfield Century City is the best mall for kids in LA. 

Corn Mazes Near Los Angeles

Submitted by Audrey M on

The Pumpkin Factory's Live Oak Canyon Corn Maze is fun for kids and dragons.

Corn mazes usually come after apple picking in the progression of fall things to do in Los Angeles. It's actually easier to find a corn maze near Los Angeles than an apple orchard! Corn mazes are typically crafted in a unique design. Some corn mazes even include a scavenger hunt within the tall walls of corn that tower over most adults. 

If you head into the maze at dusk, be sure to bring a flashlight, though you won't find a haunted corn maze on our list—for the scary stuff, check out our list of scary Halloween haunts for big kids in Los Angeles. 

See where to go apple picking near Los Angeles, find the best pumpkin patches in Los Angeles, and discover more fall traditions in our Fall Fun Guide for Los Angeles and OC Kids.   

Best Classes for Preschoolers and Toddlers in Los Angeles

Submitted by Kylie Williams on

Language and music in the same class is a sweet harmony. Photo courtesy of Baila Baila

There is no shortage of classes for preschoolers, especially in a sprawling city like Los Angeles, where class options come in droves. Schedules can be jam-packed with back-to-back classes for preschoolers and toddlers every day of the week. 

Nothing brings as much joy as helping my wiggly two-year-old dress in her leotard and tutu for dance class or lacing up my four-year-old's soccer cleats for his Lil' Kickers soccer class. Read on to learn about some of our favorite classes for preschoolers and toddlers in Los Angeles. 

Looking for more class options? We also have a fantastic list of classes for babies in LA, the best swim classes in LA for kids, dance classes for children in Los Angeles, and top preschools in LA. Go to our Classes for Los Angeles Kids Guide to check out all the various offerings in the city. 

Pages